Kenya expands national agenda on startups funding

Kenya has expanded its national agenda on startups funding, signaling a stronger commitment to innovation-driven growth. The government announced new measures to integrate startup financing into its broader economic strategy, aiming to empower entrepreneurs, attract foreign investment, and accelerate digital transformation. This expansion builds on the Kenya Startup Bill (2025) and the Digital Economy Blueprint 2025, both of which emphasize the role of startups in shaping the country’s future economy.
The agenda includes creating more accessible funding channels for early-stage ventures, strengthening partnerships with private investors, and supporting university-led entrepreneurship programs. Initiatives such as the Kenya Startup School, launched earlier in 2025, are being scaled to ensure that students and innovators nationwide can access mentorship and capital. By embedding funding opportunities into education and incubation hubs, the government hopes to nurture a pipeline of startups capable of solving local challenges and scaling regionally.
Recent successes highlight why funding has become central to Kenya’s national agenda. In June 2025, startups raised over $92 million, with landmark deals such as BURN Manufacturing’s $80 million investment to expand clean cooking solutions across Africa and Peach Cars’ $11 million Series A round to grow its online vehicle marketplace. These achievements demonstrate how funding enables startups to innovate locally while expanding their reach across the continent.
Looking ahead, experts believe Kenya’s expanded agenda will accelerate job creation, strengthen SMEs, and reinforce the country’s role as East Africa’s innovation capital. With a youthful, tech-savvy population and growing digital infrastructure, Kenya is positioning itself as a continental leader in startup-driven development. The expansion of funding efforts ensures that promising ideas receive the support they need to grow into transformative enterprises.